Former Prime Minister and prominent People’s Party member, Yousaf Raza Gillani, secured the position of Chairman of the Senate unopposed, marking a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape. Similarly, Syedal Khan Nasir of the PML-N was elected uncontested as the Deputy Chairman of the Senate.
Remarkably, no opposition candidates filed nomination papers against Gillani and Nasir, who were the preferred choices of the ruling alliance for the Senate’s presiding offices. Earlier today, 43 newly elected Senators took their oath of office at the Parliament House in Islamabad, administered by Presiding Officer Senator Ishaq Dar.
Among those who took the oath were prominent figures such as Ahad Cheema, Anwaarul Haq, Hamid Khan, Mohsin Naqvi, Anousha Rehman, Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Allama Nasir Abbas.
However, the session faced disruptions as PTI members protested and demanded an adjournment until the election of senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senator Ali Zafar of PTI, speaking on the floor, argued for deferring the election, citing constitutional concerns regarding an incomplete house.
He also criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan for its controversial decisions. In response, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar defended the proceedings, asserting that there was no unconstitutional activity and that the house was functional. Tarar further blamed PTI for impeding the election of lawmakers from KP, leading to their postponement by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
